UK driving licences and birth certificates are accepted in conjunction with each other

3. Check that the documents appear genuine, and haven’t been tampered with. Date of births and names should be correct, and any legal changes of name should be backed up with relevant certification.

4. For documents indicating a limited period of residency, make sure you check that the tenancy’s duration is covered within this time.

5. If your tenant doesn’t have the right documentation, you can use the Home Office’s ‘Landlord Checking Service’. If the tenant is able to provide a Home Office reference number, the Home Office can check their status and get back to you within 2 days.

6. Finally, you need to make copies of all the documents. These copies then need to be retained for the whole of the tenancy, and a year afterwards.

With a possible penalty of £3,000, it is an important step for landlords to take when letting their property. However, it is a simple step.

Any reputable letting agent should now offer these checks as standard, so you may decide it is more beneficial to engage an agent. Our comprehensive fully managed service takes care of all checks for you, so you don’t need to worry.